Thoroughbred Owner Harry Veruchi / Isabel Savransky - Ontario Tech University / Woodbine Mohawk Park Handicapper Garnet Barnsdale

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Larry and Ann are joined by Thoroughbred Owner Harry Veruchi, who talks about his horse West Saratoga, who is a projected starter for the Kentucky Derby on May 4th and how he was bought for just $11,000 at a Yearling Sale. Harry also discusses the interesting sidebars that exist with West Saratoga, including the constant battle that the horse’s Trainer has been having with Cancer and a Jockey, who was considering retirement at the end of last season. He also mentions where the interest in Thoroughbred racing originally came from and how he knew that West Saratoga was a special horse .Isabel Savransky, of the Ontario Tech University, whose location is on the famed Windfields Farms grounds and who discusses the farm and in particular the cemetery that includes the remains of the great Northern Dancer and several other Champion Thoroughbreds. Isabel also discusses the ‘Doors Open’ Tour on May 4th, which will offer the public an opportunity to visit the former Windfields facility and discusses another Windfields/Ontario Tech University connection that ran until 2020 and mentions two other ‘Doors Open’ Tours in Oshawa that people can visit as well. Woodbine Mohawk Park Handicapper Garnet Barnsdale, who discusses the current 2024 meet and whether there is any extra excitement with the major stakes schedule soon to kick in. He also discusses what a regular week is like for him when handicapping several harness tracks and mentions that he is also a Thoroughbred handicapper as well and talks about a couple of betting angles that he likes to use. Garnet also discusses tonight’s Woodbine Mohawk Park race card and gives a couple of potential ‘spot plays’ on tonight’s races. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look at The Way It Was in Horse Racing News, Larry talks about Thursday nights Sovereign Awards, honouring the best in Canadian Thoroughbred racing and mentions some of the major award winners from the 2023 Thoroughbred racing season. In our new feature, ‘Road Trip,’ Larry talks about todays Oaklawn Handicap Stakes at Oaklawn Park Racecourse and some history behind the race itself and who he believes the race ‘goes through’ later today. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today, later in the show.

Key Points:

• Harry talks first about the great ‘underdog’ story behind his horse West Saratoga, who is a projected starter for this years Kentucky Derby on May 4th. He also mentions some of the side bars to the story including a Trainer who is battling Cancer and a Jockey that was pondering retirement at the end of last season. Harry also discusses how West Saratoga only sold as a Yearling for $11,000 and what it was that attracted him to the horse in the first place and mentions that the horse has current earnings of over $460,000 now. Harry also says what it would be like if West Saratoga won the Kentucky Derby and when was it that he finally realized that he had a pretty decent horse and Larry gives a ‘shout out’ to the Vail Daily reporter Tricia Swenson for helping arrange the interview with Harry.

• Isabel discusses her role with the Ontario Tech University and how she and her department oversees and operates the property at Windfields Farm, which includes the graveyard containing the remains of several Champion Thoroughbreds, including the great Northern Dancer. Isabel also mentions whether there are regular visitors to the grounds and discusses the ‘Doors Open’ Tour on May 4th, that will offer the general public an opportunity to visit the grounds and whether the tour was planned for May 4th, to coincide with the fact that it is Kentucky Derby Day and this year is the 60th Anniversary of Northern Dancer’s Derby win. She also discusses two other ‘Doors Open’ Tours that the City of Oshawa has planned and an interesting connection between Ontario Tech University and Windfields Farm, which ran from 2016 to 2020.

• Garnet speaks about the current 2024 Woodbine Mohawk Season and some of the highlights to date, including the positive response to the draw for ‘slots’ to start in the Mohawk Million. He also discusses a couple of horses that have performed exceptionally at Woodbine Mohawk Park and talks about what a typical week is like for him when handicapping several Standardbred tracks in the province. Garnet also mentions about how he got into the racing business initially and how he also handicaps Thoroughbreds and mentions a couple of angles that he likes to use when betting them. He also discusses whether he has any betting angles when handicapping Standardbreds and talks about tonight’s Woodbine Mohawk Park race card and offers a couple of ‘value’ betting plays for the listeners and is asked his opinion on whether this year is the year that the Buffalo Bills will win the Super Bowl.